I have not studied Zen, and doubt I will. To me, a mind empty of thought and imagination has less than zero allure. A mind at times at ease, a peaceful mind, open and receptive to appreciation of my surroundings, and to ideas from the metaphysical idea foundry, thats Zen enough for me.

Have you seen the documentary on Leonard Cohen's life and the making of the song Hallelujah? He was often accompanied by a Zen master. One small part of the film talks about how he went to a Zen monastery for 6 years. Then, he decided to come down from the mountain, literally and figuratively , and get back to living. To me, Zen is a bit like dying. Anyway, its a great documentary. Ive watched it two or three times over the last couple of years. Another highly spiritual documentary on the life of a musician I recommend is "Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and the Band"